UAlbany president: UAlbany will continue to excel

The Times Union published George M. Philip’s opinion piece today, in reaction to criticism following the university’s announcement of layoffs and the suspension of all new admissions to five Humanities programs: Classics, French, Italian, Russian and Theatre. (UAlbany plans layoffs, program cuts, Friday, Oct. 1, 2010)

By George Philip, president of the University at Albany

The University at Albany recently reported some of the actions it is taking in response to its dramatic $33.5 million reduction in state tax-dollar support — a more than 30 percent decline since 2008.

While most of the actions will affect the nonacademic side of our enterprise, unfortunately, UAlbany’s academic program will be further impacted. Among these actions is the suspension of new admission to five degree programs — classics, French, Italian, Russian and theater — pending further consultation with faculty.

Regrettably, there is erroneous and misleading information in wide circulation about these actions. Critics, without corroborating the facts, have quickly and incorrectly concluded that UAlbany no longer values the humanities and that these actions have placed the institution’s reputation in harm’s way.

This reaction overshadows the reality of the challenges facing higher education. As state budgets shift away from higher education, universities and colleges must shift as well by harnessing their strengths and adapting to address the needs of a changing society.

Our university remained hopeful that the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act would be adopted as late as August of this year. If enacted as originally proposed, this landmark reform, coupled with sustained state assistance, would have in part helped UAlbany to address our budgetary challenges, while at the same time provide our campus with the tools and resources necessary to advance our academic enterprise. Regrettably, neither financial nor regulatory relief measures were enacted.
As the president and a proud alumnus of the University at Albany, I care deeply about the heritage and future of my alma mater and the quality of education it has afforded generations of New Yorkers. My passion for UAlbany is grounded in the liberal arts education I enjoyed as both an undergraduate and graduate student and in the programs that give UAlbany a competitive advantage in attracting the best faculty and students.

We are nationally renowned and ranked as a center for scholarship and education in atmospheric sciences, psychology, criminal justice, demography, education and literacy, nanoscience and nanoscale engineering, public affairs and policy, public health and social welfare. In addition, we have emerging strengths in the life sciences, notably in cancer research and RNA investigation.

Supporting these areas of research is a strong undergraduate liberal arts program, including solid offerings in the humanities. We have strong and highly subscribed programs in art, English, history, music and philosophy, along with important programs in Africana, East Asian, Latin American and women’s studies. Several of our social science programs host a substantial humanities component (for example, anthropology, geography and planning). We also offer instruction in 13 languages (Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, Hebrew, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish). While we have proposed to eliminate degree programs in five arts and language areas, we hope to maintain a presence of each of these disciplines in the university’s curriculum.

A 2006 Modern Language Association survey of U.S. colleges reported that language enrollments beyond the introductory level drop off dramatically, a trend that we have seen on our own campus and one of many factors we considered in dealing with the budget cuts facing our campus.

The state’s economy requires difficult choices. We’re looking to marshal resources on behalf of excellent programs that will graduate educated, fully productive citizens for the 21st century. UAlbany’s current budget process is about rethinking and rebalancing resources on behalf of this goal, to bring them into closer alignment with enrollment, research opportunities, program reputation and ranking, and strategic planning.

The decisions are the product of a series of consultative processes over more than two years. More than 700 faculty and staff have been involved in helping to develop a consensus about who we are, where we are and where we should be headed. We envision a university that offers a balance of undergraduate and graduate programs consistent with a research mission that encompasses a strong foundation in the arts and sciences as well as strong areas of distinctiveness and excellence in traditional, professional, and emerging areas that correspond to societal need, student interest, and competitive advantage.

Guided by our strategic planning, our academic program will include a rigorous and increasingly globalized undergraduate educational experience with enhanced opportunity in general education, in writing, and in the major/minor, along with a curriculum enriched by research and scholarship. We will advance excellence in graduate education, sustaining our current strengths, and growing areas of promise. We will increase our profile in research, scholarship, and creative work.

In these challenging times, our entire community is working ardently to achieve these ambitious goals. We know SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher shares these ambitions and our hope is that the next governor and Legislature will embrace them as well.

5 Responses

Funny he says that.. As a current UAlbany student I am ashamed that the university would cut these programs. I do not take any of these programs but with the lack of employment the college will have a meanless degree awarded to students who pay good money to attend. Also as I walk around campus there are numerous construction projects that could have waited or at the very least be cancelled such as: the new volley ball net behing Chemistry Bldg, numerous structures near Hum , Education , Chem bldgs just to name a few. Also the work being done on top of the academic pod area as well as numerous inside projects.. I am sure the response will be it was already budgeted well if i was to buy a new car and had the first few payments in hand and lost my job do i still buy the car since it was budgeted.. UAlbany is a joke.. Yet we can spend 40-100 thousand for guest speakers as Barb Walters last week etc… Its a shame that UAlbany has to cut programs to fund projects that can wait..

Man, are we tax payers being hoodwinked by the public university system in New York? A recent Wall Street Journal survey of corporate recruiter’s best choices for new graduates from public universities doesn’t think much of New York’s public university/college system. Not a single SUNY school is ranked in the top 25 of schools where graduates are sought for positions in America’s Fortune 500 companies. Perhaps SUNY Central, SUNYAlbany’s Mr. Phillips, etal, should look deeper into SUNY’s courses of study, statewide, for even more cuts! College attendence today has to lead to meaningful jobs for graduating students! The days of running publically subsidized courses of study for the benefit of tenured professors, academics who like to write, etc.. in non-productive fields of study, has long since past by the boards. It is high time the entire SUNY curriculum be revamped from top to bottom.. We cannot afford “old school” academia any more…